The Blues have opted for promising youngster Simon Hickey over Benji Marshall to fix their playmaking problems against the Crusaders on Friday.
The 20-year-old five eighth will make his Super Rugby debut replacing Chris Noakes, who was left out of the match squad in the wake of the opening loss to the Highlanders.
Code-hopper Marshall was retained on the bench as an impact player, having trialed at five eighth in the pre-season following his switch from the NRL.
Auckland’s national championship player of the year in 2013, Hickey is a member of the Blues’ wider training group and coach Sir John Kirwan believes the time is right for him to step up.
Kirwan compared Hickey to All Black Aaron Cruden – they have both represented New Zealand at under-20 level – and former Test great Grant Fox.
“We just think that it’s time to give him a chance and, if we want to create internal competition, we need to start that now,” he said.
“He’s had the same pathway as Cruden and he has the calmness of Foxy. He’s a mature young man who’s ready for the next step.”
Noakes was making his return from neck surgery in last weekend’s 29-21 loss to the unfancied Highlanders.
The other five eighth option, Baden Kerr is still recovering from a hand injury.
Inside centre Francis Saili’s foot injury means 18-year-old Tevita Li comes in at right wing in a reshuffled backline.
There are two changes in the starting pack, with Patrick Tuipulotu in for Liaki Moli at lock, and Sam Prattley replacing Ofa Tu’ungafasi at loosehead prop.
The bench features the inclusion of All Blacks centurion frontrowers Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock, who were rested against the Highlanders.
Meanwhile, Kirwan is optimistic that skipper Luke Braid, who picked up an ankle injury in the defeat in Dunedin, will be right to face the Crusaders.
Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, George Moala, Jackson Willison, Tevita Li, Simon Hickey, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (capt)/Brendon O’Connor, Steven Luatua, Tom Donnelly, Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Sam Prattley. Res: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Angus Ta’avao, Liaki Moli, O’Connor/Jordan Manihera, Bryn Hall, Benji Marshall, Pita Ahki.
Thunderguts
Guest
you obviously missed the two trial matches.
allblackfan
Guest
Looking forward to this game! Will be there with a mate from France. Got a pass into the members bar so all good!! Prospect of top footy -- good!! I'd like to tell GO THE BLUES!! but that sounds so Origin-ish I won't! Benji has potential; he can make a real impact but, like Folau, will need a season to bed down his rugby nous and skills. The ITM Cup will also help him in that regard! BTW: Prediction for next season -- Folau vs SBW will be epic! (I thought I'd get it in early!!)
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Finally, its been 17 whole minutes of game time. Sheeesh, what is he waiting for?
atlas
Guest
agree - it looks more like a competent ITM Cup backline than the level of players we're accustomed to seeing for the Crusaders Piutau v Slade at full speed, who'd you prefer? But up front counts, and while I may hope for a Blues win, that's where I think the Crusaders have a definite advantage
Thunderguts
Guest
good luck with your "reserve judgement" but nothing going forward [after 120mins of game time] is likely to change a rich mans Benchy to a poor mans Cruden, Carter, Hickey, etc.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Boy, how much better would that Crusaders back line look with Tom Marshall and Fruean back. Oh well they can watch them play in a real backline.
atlas
Guest
last year this match had the biggest home crowd for Blues, 31,014, and they won 34-15 Blues: Steven Luatua, Frank Halai 2, Luke Braid, George Moala tries; Piri Weepu, con, pen, Chris Noakes con, Baden Kerr con Crusaders: Dan Carter 5 pen Repeat effort? I see Read is back, Dagg on the bench for this one. Crusaders: 15 Slade, 14 Thompson, 13 Lee-Lo, 12 Crotty, 11 Tuitavake, 10 Taylor, 9 Ellis, 1 Perry, 2 Flynn, 3 Franks, 4 Whitelock, 5 Bird, 6 Whitelock, 7 McCaw, 8 Read (capt). Replacements: 16 Funnell, 17 Crockett, 18 Laulala, 19 Romano, 20 Todd, 21 Heinz, 22 Whitelock, 23 Dagg.
Digby
Roar Guru
Heard about him Hosey but haven't seen much to be honest. You rate him?
Hosey G
Guest
What about Matt McGhan?. He looks pretty handy too.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Hickey!? Hes a slightly rich mans verion of a poor mans Cruden when he was like a a rich mans Anscombe on an off day! This is outrageous! Benji is like a moderately wealthy mans Benji Marshall.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Finally! It took him ages. How many chances does Benji need to blow? Dude wtf are you talking about "finally". He hasnt even started a comp game yet. Perhaps we should reserve judgement until there is something to judge.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Poor mans Garteh Anscombe lol. What exactly do you base that on? he is just a kid and has made all the right moves so far.
Turnover
Roar Guru
I hope so...
Thunderguts
Guest
finally the lights have come on at the Blues with JK recognising that his expensive investment is not going to be the solution to the Blues lack of a real match making General. Hickey looks the goods but time will tell. In the meantime Benchy will continue to come from the bench for 20 minutes.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Saders 13+
Digby
Roar Guru
I agree. I hope he goes well. As much as I would like to see Benji have a run I think the enthusiasm needs to be tempered a little as when he came on against the Higlanders he had free license to chase the game and it was a bit looser.
Rugbyfan
Guest
Hickey is class mate, he's better than Anscombe, I think he's also the quickest 10 in the game too him or Barrett
Rugbyfan
Guest
what about TEVITA LI though.....Kid is a beast, he's only 18yrs of age and he's starting on the left wing for the Blues, can't remember the last time a 18 yr has started on the wing for the blues let alone the backline in fact for the blues period. He's been labelled the next LOMU for a reason
John
Guest
Should be alright. Hickey was the ITM cup player of the year last year. Not a bad player at least better than Noakes thank god Kirwan dropped him.
zer0
Guest
Hickey is a poor man’s Gareth Anscombe, which suits the Blues quite well at the moment as Kiriwn is a poor man’s impersonator of a rugby coach.